Klarinet Archive - Posting 000704.txt from 1995/06

From: Bob Kreisa <bkreisa@-----.EDU>
Subj: Advice to a young clarinetist
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 14:54:17 -0400

Due to all of the (negative) reaction to one of my postings, I feel I
possibly mis-stated my point. Allow me to clarify. I was writing with
the assumption that the 11 year old who posted about starting clarinet
would be taking lessons at school. If she isn't, then by all means take
private lessons! I agree that you need lessons when you're starting,
where we disagree is where to get them from. I'm starting to think that
my school district is more unique than I had thought. Here, when you
start in 6th grade, at least this was how it was handled three years ago,
you took a lesson with, at most, 2 other people that played the same
instrument. The lessons were about a half an hour long. We played at
least one or two exercises on our own so the teacher could see that we
were progressing properly. We were reminded (those who had problems
could have considered it nagging) of proper posture, hand position, etc.
>From your messages this is more unusual than I thought. With this lesson
style there's not much necessity for private lessons. Also, private
teachers aren't easy to find around here.

P.S.- I did not have a negative experience with a teacher early on, and
if anyone else says I did, I'll be very upset!

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Abby Kreisa
bkreisa@-----.edu